For the most part, FOX has really been struggling this season. When it comes to new shows, Empire is a hit and Gotham’s doing okay but Utopia, Mulaney, Gracepoint, and Red Band Society were dismal failures in the ratings and have already been cancelled. How’s Backstrom doing? Will it survive to see a second season?
On Backstrom, an offensive, irascible yet brilliant detective (Rainn Wilson) is brought back from exile to run Portland Police Bureau’s Special Crimes Unit. The rest of the cast includes Genevieve Angelson, Dennis Haysbert, Kristoffer Polaha, Page Kennedy, Beatrice Rosen, and Thomas Dekker.
With American Idol as a lead-in, the series debuted on January 22nd with a 1.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 7.98 million viewers. That was an okay start but there wasn’t much serious competition on the other networks.
In week two, Backstrom had to start competing with Scandal on ABC and the ratings dropped more than 30%. In week three, NBC’s The Blacklist moved to Thursdays at 9pm and Backstrom dropped another 30% or so once again, falling to a 1.0 in the demo and 3.64 million.
In week four, the FOX series bounced back to a 1.2 in the demo and 4.39 million. Last week’s installment took another big tumble and Backstrom landed at a 0.9 in the demo and 3.54 million.
It’s pretty clear that, while Backstrom may have some devoted viewers, it’s not priority viewing for most people on Thursday nights. It’s pretty consistently in fourth place in its 9pm timeslot and is now FOX’s lowest-rated drama.
With numbers like these, it’s hard to imagine that FOX will renew Backstrom for a second season. FOX has some serious schedule problems but this show doesn’t seem to be a solution. There are eight episodes left in the season (only five are scheduled) so Backstrom has some time to prove itself with better ratings. This seems unlikely but sometimes miracles do happen. Backstrom could certainly use one.
But, what do you think? Do you like Backstrom? If you ran the network, would you cancel or renew this series for a second season? Would you change anything to attract more viewers?
Keep it!
I like this show but come on in you are going to say it takes plane in Portland Oregon actually film it there .
I love this show. I don’t have to much time to watch it but I crack up every time I see it. I hope they will keep it for another season. If they do cancel it I bet money fox will be kicking themselves in the ass just like they did with family guy. Backstrom will come back with a vengeance…
I love Backstrom too!! And I agree with Shiloh, move the show to another night where it doesn’t have as many established well liked hows to compete with. Move Backstrom to another night and give it time to develop before you do anything harsh, like cancelling one of my favorite new shows!!
Its one of the best shows out there. Don’t cancel what will be the best show Fox has in its line up. Change the time slot sure. Hell this show is the only reason to watch Fox… besides Gotham.
This is the only show I watch. I know Im weird but so is Backstrom. He is me if I were a cop lol
Keep the show!!!!!!
Please keep this show! It never even occurred to me that there would be a question about renewing it; I thought the show was THAT GOOD from the very beginning. All cancellation means is that the network deliberately put in it a ‘death spot’ – knowing that quirky shows take a little longer to find its audience than the typical (yawn) police procedurals. Rainn Wilson is awesome! And I just love the atypical characters, particularly Thomas Dekker as Gregory Valentine, but all of them are interesting people to watch interact and the comedic timing is terrific. Cancellation means the network… Read more »
I really hope that Fox does not cancel this fun show. While the networks don’t really need another crime drama, I’ve found Backstrom to be a witty and intelligent mystery show with some truly great characters. Rainn Wilson is fantastic at playing the irascible and ornery main character Backstrom (and is all but unrecognizable compared to his work in The Office), while the supporting cast is solid and definitely reliable. I particularly enjoy Genevieve Angelson, who is both talented and, ahem, easy on the eyes, while Dennis Haysbert keeps me hoping that he’ll throw an Allstate reference in there somewhere.… Read more »
I love backstrom, but I’m getting to the point where I don’t even want to watch shows until they have at least two seasons. I really liked rake, and Vegas also, and I was left on the edge with those shows. It really feels like they just don’t care to let shows develop.
Ditto that!,,
My husband and myself love the show Its great Just move to another night You have plenty of time slots to fill with a one of a kind show When are these TV executives going to use their brains KEEP BACKSTROM!
Please keep Bacstrom I have never enjoyed a fox show like this. He is funny while dealing with terrible issues. Please I heard that you are going to cancel it don’t. Thank you
There’s lots of viewers who do not watch their shows live. We enjoy them at our leisure; make sure we are counted before canceling another one of your shows. I love quirky Backstrom!!!
KEEP THIS SHOW! This is one of the better shows on television right now, and is a refreshing change from all the other stuff on right now.
LOVE the show..good characters,plots are great, humor..keep it! It needs to find a better time slot. It’s got a lot going for it
This show is great let it stay!